Content Management Systems

I believe there is no significant difference between these two tools. It is what they can do that makes them great. With these two CMS tools you can add many different kinds of content/modules, have multiple RSS feeds, different users with various access, and many other things. These two tools have the potential to dramatically change the way we think about the web and the way we build online experiences.

Course Management Systems

Blackboard

Cost: Blackboard Enterprise, which can accomodate 1500 - 500,000 users, ranges in price from approx. $10,000 to $100,000+ depending on a number of variables. Blackboard will soon be marketing a cheaper "mini version" for users ranging in the hundreds with a lower cost than the Enterprise version.

Sloodle

Essentially, Sloodle is a project which integrates Moodle with Second Life, providing a “Learning System for Virtual Environments.” Course features are basically the same what Moodle offers, but with an opportunity for students to interact in a virtual, 3D classroom. The cost (free) is also the same as Moodle, but the format does not allow for low-tech browser interfaces.

Web Conferencing

1videoConference

Windows only program that currently requires all users to download an installer to upgrade .NET, make sure Flash is up to date and install a certificate into IE Support for internet and telephony user videos

Wikis

If you go with a hosted software, one that is housed on someone else's server, you will always have similar issues. There are usually ads and you will have less customization options. If you have to install the software, then you will be able to change the look and feel of the wiki to match your web site. You will also gain more control over the kind of access people are given. There are many other options for wiki software. For a complete list, see the Wiki Matrix.

Live Chat Tools

Chat rooms allow a group of people to communicate via text-based chat in a real-time conference. There are many free and inexpensive options that provide this functionality. This section provides details about four of these tools: Campfire, Zoho Chat, Meebo, and AIM. This section does not address the possible integration of a chat extension or module within a content management system (e.g., Drupal, Joomla). Both Moodle and Sakai, course management systems, include chat room functionality as well. Integrating asychronous chat within a course website should certainly be considered.

Of the four, stand-alone chat tools evaluated here, we recommend Zoho Chat since it includes the most features and is completely free. It is web-based, so participants will not need to download and install any software. In addition, it does not require an instant messaging (IM) account which is seen as an advantage since IM software and services are sometimes blocked.

Campfire

Campfire is a web-based group chat service that can be accessed from any computer with a web browser. This chat service is fee-based, but it does have a free version. With a Campfire account, you can create multiple chat rooms and have up to 60 simultaneous chatters (depending on the account plan). Transcripts are ordered chronologically and searchable. Campfire also allows file sharing (file space depends on the account plan). Accounts can have an unlimited number of members who are invited via email. Members have access to transcripts and files and can be restricted to specific chat rooms if desired. Guest access can be turned on or off in individual chat rooms. Guests are invited to specific chats via email. They cannot see transcripts, nor can they see the previous conversations that took place in a chat room.

Cost: Price ranges from free (up to 4 simultaneous chatters) to $49/month (up to 60 simultaneous chatters); No set up or termination fees

Zoho Chat

Zoho Chat is a free, web-based chat service that can be accessed from any computer with a web browser. You can create groups of registered Zoho users and then initiate chats with those groups. Once a chat has begun, guests can be invited to participate via a unique URL if desired. Guest access can be turned on or off. Transcripts are automatically saved in chronological order and are searchable, but they can be deleted if desired. Guests do not have access to transcripts. Previous chats can be restarted by opening up the saved transcript and continuing the conversation. Zoho Chat also allows file sharing.

Meebo

Meebo is a free, web-based instant messaging (IM) service that lets you log in to all of your IM networks from any computer with a web browser. It has a group chat feature that lets anyone with an IM account create a new group chat or join an existing chat room. To use this service for group chats, everyone who needs to participate in the group chat must have an IM account with the same provider (e.g., AIM, Yahoo, etc.). The Meebo group chat does not have file sharing capability, nor can transcripts be saved.

Cost: Free

Download: No, web-based

Transcripts: No

File Sharing: No

Number of Chatters: ?

Registration: All participants must have accounts with the same IM client

AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

AIM is instant messaging software that you can download and install for free. This software has a chat room feature that lets you create private chat rooms for specific groups of people. All of the participants must have an AIM account. In addition, you can automatically save chat transcripts and share files.